Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, DEC. 10. !.

WASHINGTON, DEC. 19, 1887.
The House has been in session
two weeks, aud literally accomplish
ed nothing except the appointment
of the Committee on Elections. This
committee is ready for work, and
have notified the attorneys in the
Thobe- Carlisle case to meet them to.
morrow and present their issue.
Meantime the Committee has exam
ined somewhat thoroughly the evil
dence on file, and l will hazard my
reputation in predicting that the
committee will unanimously report
in favor of Mr.. Carlisle. That ques-
ton settled, will reliev the Speaker
of much embarrassment.
On next Thursday both branches
will adjourn until Jan. 4. The
Speaker will then have the various
committees ready for announcement,
and solid business will commence.
The first wordy spat OF the session
occurred Friday between Hatch, of
Missouri, and Reed, of Maine, where
in Reed held the democratic major
ity of the House responsible for this
needless delay and non-action, when
the country was suffering for legisla.
tive relief. Reed aims direct at the
mark, and always hits. 1t was anus
ing to see the democratic members
squirm and vince under his truthful
and cutting arraignment. Reed
scored victory, which was loudly
applauded by the immense throng in
the gallery, and it was some mo.
ments before the Speaker could re-
store order.
The remarks that are constantly
cropping out in regard to the Presi.
dents message, are quite significant
j. S. Barbour, the leader Of Virginia
Democracy, and the next U. s. Sen
ator from that State, said the other
day: "Thank God, we elected our
legislature before that document
came out" 1t is firmly believed by
Republicans here, that if we can
have a tair count, we are sure oil
Virginia, West Virginia, and North
Carolina in the next election, and
the Republicans of these States are
determined to have q fair count, il
such thing is possible. They have
been cheated long enough. Missis
sippi and Louisiana are in the same
line, and the feeling is very strong
that the message has broken the
Z" solid South"
The battle over the confirmation
of Lamar as a member of the Su
preme Court, is waxing warm. There
is rumor to day that two or three
Southern Senators will oppose him
chiefly OH the ground of age and
physical inability to perform the
duties of the office. / regard the is
sue so doubtful that only final vote
can determine it.
Senator Chandler has introduced
bill to regulate Congressional
elections IN certain Southern States,
and the Democrats call him "mis-
chief maker" The New Hampshire
Senator is we'll prepared, and will in
due time, give an expose of the "mis
chief" that has been going on in
those States that will startle the
country.
Senator Blair is very confident
that his Educational bill will pass
this session and become law. He
says the Senate committee to whom
1t is referred, will early report unan.
imously in its favor, and that so far
as he has canvassed and can Judge,
the prospect Of its passage in the
House, is exceedingly encouraging.
Multiply the school houses and you
reduce the democratic vote.
The Committee ON Rules will pro.
baby be announced tomorrow, pos
sibly this afternoon, and will consist
of the Speaker, and Messrs. Randall,
of Pennsylvania, Mills, of Texas,
Reed, of Maine, and Cannon, of IL
linOis and that clearly settles the
question that Mills is to be chair
man of the Ways and Means Com
mittee and report tariff bill dicta
ted by Speaker Carlisle.
The Senate Committee on Inter
State Commerce will early report a
bill embodying all the important
amendments suggested by Senator
Cullom.
The practicability of reducing let
ter postage to one cent au ounce Is
being very generousl, discussed
among members, and is regarded
favorably. The Republican mem
bers almost unanimously endorse
the project.
The Senate Chamber was compile
tely deserted on Saturday, not a
Senator being seen in his seat dur
ing the entire day. In the House
several members were gathered in
squads, smoking and telling stories,
and having a jolly time generally
The new members seemed to enjoy
the situation with unusual pleasure
The new Doorkeeper of the House
who has more patronage than any
other officer of taat body, is making
a pretty clean sweep Of the old EN-
ployes, and as consequence there
is good deal of bitterness at thai
end of the Capitol.